Steam radiator



March 30, 1954 B. sPn-:TH

STEAM RADIATOR Filed Oct. 20. 1950 mii/111111111.

Patented Mar. 30, 1954 UNITED STATES ENT OFFICE STEAM RADIATOR Benjamin Spieth, Racine, Wis.,

assigner to Medine Manufacturing Company, Racine, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin 14 Claims.

The invention relates generally to heat transfer elements, and more particularly to a heat transfer element adapted for use in steam heating systems of the one-pipe type. Other embodiments of my invention are disclosed and claimed in my co-pending applications Serial No. 60,569, iiled November 17, 1948, now U. S. Patent No. 2,561,424 granted July 24, 1951; and Serial No. 61,363, led November 22, 1948, now U. S. Patent No. 2,584,239 granted February 5, 1952.

One-pipe steam systems are quite extensively used in heating homes, and other enclosures, in which system a single pipe is employed to carry steam from the boiler to the heat transfer structures whether of convection or radiation type, condensate being returned to the boiler by means of the same pipe.

As is well known, such one-pipe systems have certain inherent faults due to the fact that steam and condensate are normally ilowing in opposite directions in the heat transfer element, resulting in objectionable noises from pounding within the element known as water hammer, and in a reduction in enlciency. While the iluid passages could be made suiiiciently large in cross section to eliminate this diinculty, this solution is impractical in the light of present trends from a size as well as a cost standpoint, and is not suited to present design practices. Attempts have been made to overcome this dimculty in this type of heat transfer element by various types of constructions which in general, all utilize the same basic principle:v to wit, to maintain the iiow of steam and condensate in a single direction throughout the heat transfer device. example of such a construction is illustrated in United States Letters Patent No. 2,056,263, issued en October 6, 1936, to Morris Ehrlich, and while such general types oi construction provide much improved results, a relatively complicated and expensive structure is required to achieve the same.

The present invention is directed to a heat transfer structure for use in single pipe systems, wherein the flow of steam is not restricted to a single path or direction through the structure, but which is so designed that the flow ci steam. in any one portion of the device is normally in the same direction as the flow of condensate until a predetermined amount of condensate is accumulated, at which point the latter is returned into the, supply pipe, the ow of steam in such portion oi the device being momentarily retarded.

The present invention, therefore, has among its obiects the production of a heat transfer struc- A typical ture for use in a one-pipe system which is so designed that the return flow of condensate is eiectively controlled, whereby objectionable water hammer, and the like, is eliminated but, at the same time, does not require a continuously unidirectional steam flow through the exchange structure.

Another object of the invention is the production of such a structure which, while eliminating the disadvantages of a single pipe steam system, is very simple in construction and economical to manufacture, at the same time providing smoothness of operation comparable from a practical standpoint to that of exchangers incorporating unidirectional flow.

A further object of the invention is the production of such a structure in which relatively little change is required in the component parts of the present heat transfer structures, whereby the present invention may be readily utilized with heat exchange structures of more or less standard design.

iany other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given.

To t` is end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

1n the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a heat exchange device embodying the present invention, with portions of the header structures broken away to disclose details of construction;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a modied form of the condensate discharge member.

The present invention is readily adapted for use in heat transfer structures of the oonvector type utilizing a supply header and a terminal header connected by a plurality of fluid conducting tubes, the latter having a plurality of heat transfer line mounted thereon, and the invention is illustrated in the drawings in connection with such a type exchanger.

The present invention contemplates the use of such a heat exchange construction of generally conventional design, wherein steam entering the supply header may flow through all of the tubes, or other fluid passages toward the other header, during which period condensate and air will likewise tend to be urged toward such other header,

which may be provided with means for venting any air accumulated therein. However, one of the uid conducting passages is so connected to the supply header that condensate may ultimately accumulate therein, and when suflicient condensate has accumulated, it will be discharged into the supply header, steam ilow through such passage ceasing momentarily until the condensate has been discharged, following which steam may again flow through all of the passageways. Thus the structure permits intermittent condensate flow into the supply pipe, as distinguished from a continuous flow resulting in unidirectional flow type of structures, the flow of Condensate, however, being so controlled that objectionable noise is not produced, whereby satisfactory operating results are achieved without the use of relatively expensive structures employing unidirectional flow principles.

Referring to the drawings, numeral I indicates generally a heat transfer structure comprising a supply header 2 and an oppositely disposed header connected by a plurality of tubes 3a, 3b, and 3c, the tubes being three in number in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, and arranged in staggered relation, whereby the tubes 3a and 3b are positioned above the tube 3c. As clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, both of the tubes 3a and 3b open directly on the respective headers 2 and 2', as does the end of the tube 3c at the header 2. The opposite end of the tube 3c at the header 2 is sealed by a suitable end member 4, such end of the tube 3c communicating with the interior of the header by a downwardly extending, hollow extension member or suction tube 5, the lower end 6 of which is open to the header interior. The hollow extension member or suction tube forms an inhibiting device which causes the steam and condensate to now in a common or U direction provided by the tubes 3a. F-b, and 3c, and the header 2. In the construction illustrated, the upper end of the member 5 is provided with a flange 'I complementary to the outer surface of the tube 3c, the flange 'I being bonded, or otherwise suitably secured, to the tube, with the latter having an opening 8 therein aligned with the interior of the extension member 5, whereby fluid may flow to and from the tube 1c through the member 5.

The header 2 is generally similar in size and shape to the header 2, with the exception that no pipe connection is provided in the bottom thereof, and the top wall of the header is provided with suitable means, such as a threaded bore, for attachment of anA air relief valve thereto, indicated. generally by the numeral 9.

In use, the operation of the device is as follows: Steam entering the header 2 from the supply pipe I ii enters the tubes 3a and 3b, and progresses toward the header 2'. Likewise, the steam is free to enter the adjacent end of the tube 3c through the extension 5 and opening 8, and to progress toward the header 2', the steam iiow in the respective tubes tending to push any air within the header 2 and tubes before it, whereby such air will enter the header 2 and be discharged through the air valve 9, so that the entire heating element is lled with steam. The heat of the steam is, of course, conducted through the tube walls to the fins, resulting in exchange of heat to the air surrounding the iins and tubes. As the steam gives up heat, condensate forms, and additional steam will flow from the supply pipe into the header 2 and the tubes. Condensed steam in the tubes 3a and 3b is scrubbed along the tubes in the direction of the steam flow toward the header 2', in which it Will be discharged, as illustrated in Fig. l, and as the bottom II of the header 2 adjacent the tube 3c is positioned below the tubes 3a and 3b, a well I2, or the like, is formed in which condensate may accumulate, and a similar action tends to result from steam ow from the header 2 into the tube 3c. As condensate continues to accumulate, condensate originating in the tubes 3a and 3b, together with condensate originating in the tube 3c, ultimately tends to flow in the latter tube toward the inlet header 2, such action resulting by the application of several forces. First, as there may be a head of water in the header 2', as indicated in Fig. 1, such head will urge condensate ow toward the header 2, such action being supplemented by the fact that the entire heating element is normally pitched downward a slight amount toward the header 2. Also, as the entrance of steam into the tube 3c is restricted by the relatively small opening 8, there is a tendency of steam to iiow through the unrestricted tubes 3a and 3b into the header 2', and enter the tube 3c, such steam tending to scrub condensate along the tube toward the header 2. Consequently, the result is that the condensed steam ultimately is substantially all deposited in the tube 3c, and is urged toward the header 2 by gravity and the steam flow from tubes 3a and 3b, with the condensate accumulating in the bottom of the tube 3c. As the accumulating condensate tends to surge slightly, it will at some moment submerge the opening 8 in the tube, and as the opening 3 and the interior of the extension member 5 is of relatively small cross sectional area, it will be bridged entirely across by condensate, and a column of water of a height equal to the length of the extension member 5 will immediately be formed tending, by the action of gravity, to suck the condensate which is collected in the tube 3c downward, and discharge it against the iiow of steam into the header 2. As the area of the surply pipe IEI is relatively large, the upward ve'ocity of steam is low, whereby the condensate wil readily flow, by gravity, against the inflow of the steam in the supply pipe. Following discharge oi the condensate, steam may again enter the tube 3c through the extension member 5 and opening 8 until the surge of another D001 of condensate submerges the opening 8, andthe cycle is repeated.

Careful tests have disclosed that this type of condensate surging in the tube 3c is not conducive to objectionable noise, and if a larger` working head is desired to draw the condensate collected in tube 3c, this may be readily achieved by increasing the length of the extension member 5. Likewise, as the head of incoming steam into the header 2 tends to counteract the hydraulic head of the condensate in the extension 5, if desired, the lower end of the member 5, as illustrated in Fig. 3, may be provided With a cap I3, and a discharge opening I4 formed in the side wall of the member 5.

While the invention may be practiced in connection with tubes all positioned at the same level, I prefer to utilize staggered tubes, as illustrated, as improved results are achieved, the well I2 in such construction preventing condensate once discharged from the tubes 3a and 3b into the same from returning back into the tubes. It will be noted from the above description that, while a physical structure embodying the present `invention at rst glance may appear similar to that of previous devices, the present invention is directed to a structure which functions in an entirely different manner than previous devices, particularly compared with the unidirectional type of structures, the present design resulting in the intermittent discharge of condensate, as heretofore described, without the creation of objectionable noise.

It will also be noted that the physical structure utilized in the practice of the present invention is exceedingly simple, and headers 2 and 2 may be of substantially standard construction, with the main addition being in the means for effecting discharge of condensate into the supply pipe in the manner described.

Although it is preferred to use a suction tube, condensate discharge, or inhibiting device 5 as disclosed, it is to be understood that traps, or other forms of condensate discharge means as disclosed and claimed in my aforementioned patents, may be utilized without departing from the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the saine without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a one-pipe steam heat exchange device, the combination of a hollow supply header having a steam inlet port therein, a plurality of tubes secured at one of their corresponding ends to said header through which fluid including steam and condensate may flow, the opposite ends of said tubes being operatively connected, one of said tubes being positioned below another of said tubes and including a downwardly extending hollow extension positioned in said header, said tube associated with the hollow extension being sealed contiguous to the juncture of the hollow extension, the lower end of said hollow extension having an opening therein whereby fluid may flow into and out of said tube end, said hollow extension being positioned substantially concentric with respect to the steam inlet port of the hollow supply header, the interior, cross sectional area of said extension being less than the corresponding area of the tube associated therewith and adapted to be bridged by the condensate within the associated tube, the adjacent ends of the other tubes operatively communicating with the header interior, the axis of said hollow extension extending substantially at right angles to the axes of the tubes.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said extension is substantially straight, and the bottom end thereof is provided with an axially extending opening therein.

3. A structure as defined in claim l wherein said extension is substantially straight, and the bottom end of the extension is closed, said extension having an opening in the side wali thereof adjacent such closed end.

4. In a one-pipe steam heat exchange device through which steam and condensate may iiow, the combination of a plurality of substantially parallel tubes, a hollow supply header having a steam inlet therein, one of the corresponding ends of each tube being secured to the supp-ly header, certain of said tube ends communicating directly with the header interior, another of said tube ends extending into the header with said end being closed, a substantially straight tube positioned in said header and secured to said tube end, with said straight tube extending substantially vertically downward therefrom, said straight tube being positioned substantially concentric with respect to the steam inlet of the hollow supply header, the interior cross-sectional area of said straight tube within which condensate may collect being less than the corresponding area of the tube associated therewith and adapted to be bridged by the condensate within said associated tube, said tube end having an opening therein operatively connecting the interior thereof with the interior of said straight tube, with the bottom end of the latter communieating with the header interior, a hollow header including a condensate well positioned at the opposite ends of said tubes and operatively connecting the same, the axes of said substantially parallel tubes arranged at substantially right angles to the straight tube positioned in said header, and an air venting valve operatively connected to the last-mentioned header through which air entrapped above the condensate in the said last-mentioned header may be discharged.

5. A structure, as defined in claim 4, wherein the extreme lower end of said straight tube is closed, said tube having an opening in the side wall thereof adjacent such closed end.

6. In a one-pipe steam heat exchange device, the combination of a heat transfer structure including oppositely arranged headers and a plurality of duid passages operatively connected between the headers so that the steam is not restricted to a single passage and arranged in the form of a return passage through which iulid comprising steam and condensate may flow in a single direction, one of said headers of said structure providing a supply header having a fluid inlet chamber, means for operatively connecting said chamber to a iiuid supply pipe, one operative end of said return passage communicating with said inlet chamber, an air relief means operatively connected to the other of said headers permitting air within the heat transfer structure to be discharged, an inhibiting device operatively connected to the return passage, said return passage contiguous to the juncture of the inhibiting device being closed, said device including a downwardly extending passage operatively connected to the fluid supply pipe and substantially coaxial therewith, said axis of said downwardly extending passage extending substantially at right angles to the axes of the fluid passages, said downwardly extending passageway of relatively small cross-sectional area with respect to the corresponding area of the return passage associated therewith and adapted to be bridged by the condensate, and the opposite end oi said return passage operatively communicating with said inlet chamber through the downwardly extend-g ing passageway in said structure, said last-mentioned passageway normally permitting the ingress of steam into said return passage, whereby condensate accumulated within the return passage at the connection to the downwardly extending passage is intermittently discharge-d into the supply pipe.

7. En one-pipe condensable fluid heat exchange device, the combination of a heat transfer structure including oppositely arranged headers and a plurality of fluid passages operatively connected to the headers so that fluid lis-notrestricted to asingle passage and arranged in the form of an interconnected passagek .through which uid may i'low in a single direction, one of lsaid headers providing means for operatively connecting one operative end of said interconnected passage to a uid supply line, means for operatively connecting the opposite end of said interconnected passage to such uid supply line including a downwardly extending passageway formed therein and extending substantially at right angles to said interconnected passage, said downwardly extending passageway being substantfially coaxial with the iluid supply line, Vthe lower end of said downwardly extending passage- Way operatively communicates with the opposite end of the interconnected passage and said supply line, said opposite end of said interconnected passage being closed contiguous to the juncture of said downwardly extending p-assageway therewith, said downwardly extending passageway normally permitting the ingress of uid into said interconnected passage, and said last mentioned passageway of relatively small crosssectional area with respect to the corresponding area of the interconnected passage associated therewith and adapted to be bridged by the condensate, whereby condensate accumulated within the interconnected passage at the juncture with the downwardly extending passage is intermittently discharged to said supply line under the action of gravity acting on the condensate in opposition to iiuid pressure in said supply line.

8. In a one-pipe condensable fluid heat exchange device, the combination of a heat transfer structure having a plurality of iluid passages therein arranged in the form of a return passage through which fluid may ilow, header means for opera-tively connecting one operative end of said return passage to a fluid supply line, a condensate well operatively connected to the iluid passages and intermediate the length of the return passage formed by the duid passages, and condensate discharge means for operatively connecting the opposite end of said return passage to such supply line formed with an opening therein through which fluid and condensate may flow between said opposite end and the supply line, said condensate discharge means being substantially coaxial with the fluid supply line and at substantially right angles to the return passage, f

said return passage contiguous to the juncture of the condensate discharge means being closed, said last-mentioned opening, while normally being-of a cross sectional area less than the crosssectional area of the fluid passage to which it is connected permitting the ingress of fluid into said return passage from the supply line, and adapted to be intermittently blocked by condensate accumulated at the end of the fluid passage to which connected to stop such ingress and permit condensate to flow into such supply line under the action of gravity in opposition to fluid pressure in such line.

- 9. In a one-pipe steam heat exchange device, the combination of a hollow supply header having a steam inlet port therein, a plurali-ty of tubes secured at one of their corresponding ends to said header through which iiuid including steam and condensate may flow, a second hollow header secured to the opposite ends of said tubes and operatively connecting the same, said second header having a condensate well therein, air relief means operatively connected to said second header, one of said tubes extending into said supply hea-der at, one end andcommunicating with said condensate well at the other end and including a downwardly extending, hollow extension operatively connected to the end of the tube extending into the supply header, said end of the tube contiguous to the juncture of the hollow extension therewith being closed, the lower end of the extension being positioned in said supply header and having an opening therein at its opposite end whereby fluid may now into and out of said tube end, said hollow extension being substantially coaxial with the steam inlet port of the supply header and at substantially right angles to the tube entering the supply header, the interior, cross-sectional area of said extension being less than the corresponding area of the tube associated therewith and adapted to be bridged by the condensate, and the adjacent ends of the other tubes operatively communicating with the supply header interior.

10. In a one-pipe condensable fluid heat exchange device, the combination oi a heat transfer structure having a plurality of fluid passages therein arranged in the form of an interconnected passage through which iluid including steam and condensate may iiow, and in which condensate may form, header means including a fluid inlet chamber for operatively connecting one operative end of said interconnected passage directly to a iluid supply line, condensate collecting means communicating with an intermediate portion of said interconnected passage for restricting the flow of condensate thereat toward such end of the interconnected passage, and condensate discharge means including a downwardly extending extension tube for operatively connecting the opposite end of said interconnected passage to said supply line to normally permit the ingress of iiuid into said last-mentioned end of said interconnected passage, said extension tube being substantially coaxially arranged with respect to the fluid supply line and at substantially righ-t angles to the interconnected passage, said interconnected passage being closed contiguous to the juncture of the condensate discharge means therewith, and the extension tube of said condensate discharge means associated with the latter end of said interconnected passage being of a cross-sectional area less than the cross-sectional area of the interconnected passage and permitting intermittent return of condensate bridging the extension tube and accumulated thereat through said extension tube to the supply line.

11. In a one-pipe steam heat exchange device, the combination of a hollow supply header having a steam inlet port therein, a tubular heat transfer structure having a steam inlet end and a condensate discharge end, said ends being secured to said header. said inlet end communieating with the interior of said header, air relief means operatively connected to the tubular heat transfer structure intermediate the ends thereof, the other end of said structure communicating with the header interior through a downwardly extending passageway, said downwardly extending passageway being substantailly coaxial with said steam inlet port and at substantially right angles to the tubular heat transfer structure, said condensate discharge end of said tubular heat transfer structure being closed contiguous to the juncture of the downwardly extending passageway therewith, the interior, cross-sectional area of said passageway being less than the corresponding area of the interior of the discharge end ofthe heat transierstructureand .adapted to be bridged by the condensate, whereby steam may ilow through said passageway until suincient condensate collects at the juncture of said passageway with the discharge end of the heat transfer structure whereupon the condensate is discharged.

12. In a one-pipe steam heat exchange device, the combination of a heat transfer structure including oppositely arranged headers and a plurality of fluid passages operatively connected between the headers so that the steam is not restricted to a single passage, and arranged in the form of a return passage through which uid comprising steam and condensate may flow in a single direction, one of said headers of said structure providing a supply header having a. fluid inlet chamber, means for operatively connecting said chamber to a fluid supply pipe, one operative end of said return passage communicating with said inlet chamber, an air relief means operatively connected to the other of said headers permitting air within the heat transfer structure to be discharged, an inhibiting device operatively connected to the return passage, said device including a downwardly extending passageway operatively connected to the fluid supply pipe, said downwardly extending passageway arranged substantially coaxial with respect to the connection of the inlet chamber to the fluid supply pipe and at substantially right angles to the fluid passages, said return passage being closed contiguous to the juncture of the downwardly extending passageway therewith, and the opposite end of said return passage operatively communicating with said inlet chamber through the downwardly extending passageway in said structure, and said last-mentioned passageway being less in cross-sectional area than the corresponding cross-sectional area of the return passage providing means for discharging condensate accumulated in the return passage at the connection of the downwardly extending passageway whereby said condensate is discharged to said supply line under the action of gravity acting on, the condensate in opposition to iluid pressure in said supply line.

13. In a one-pipe steam heat exchange device, the combination of a hollow supply header having a steam inlet port therein, a lplurality of tubes secured at one of their corresponding ends 50 to said header through which fluid including steam and condensate may flow, the opposite ends of said tubes being operatively connected, one of said tubes extending into the header and including a downwardly extending hollow extension of relatively small cross-sectional area and adapted to be bridged by the condensate, the lower end of which has an opening therein whereby fluid may flow therethrough into and out of said tube end, the interior, cross-sectional area of said extension being less than the corresponding area of the tube associated therewith, said hollow extension being positioned substantially concentric with respect to the steam inlet port of the hollow supply header, the adjacent ends of the other tubes operatively communicating with the header interior, the axis of said hollow extension being substantially at right angles to the axis of the tube to which it is operatively connected, and the end of said tube contiguous to the juncture with the hollow extension being closed.

14. In a one-pipe steam heat exchange device. the combination of a hollow supply header having a steam inlet port therein, a plurality of tubes operatively connected at one of their corresponding ends and secured at their opposite corresponding ends to said header, one of said tubes communicating directly with the header interior, another of said tubes extending into said header and being closed at the end within the header, a downwardly extending hollow extension positioned in said header and secured at its upper end to said last-mentioned tube contiguous to the closed end thereof, said hollow extension being positioned substantially concentric with respect to the inlet port of the hollow supply header, and the lower end of said extension having an opening therein whereby fluid may ilow into and out of said tube end, the interior, crosssectional area of said extension being less than the corresponding area of the tube associated therewith and adapted to be bridged by the condensate within the associated tube. said lastmentioned tube being arranged substantially at right angles to the hollow extension.

BENJAMIN SPIETH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 286,780 Clark Oct. 16, 1883 933,869 Wilson Sept. 13, 1909 2,056,263 Ehrlich Oct. 6, 1936 

